1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
August 4th, 2016 | 07:26 AM
#1
Thread Starter
76' OldsCutlassSup
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 4
1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Hey I have a question I have a 1976 Cutlass Supreme 355 engine and for some reason my car is overheating I have replaced the water pump I have replaced the thermostat in my radiator is good what do you think it could be causing the car to overheat we took it on 5 hour drive just came back everything was good go to go to work today and the car randomly overheats
August 4th, 2016 | 09:15 AM
#3
Hookers under Hood
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,543
From: Ontario, Canada
Adding to what Oldcutlass asked, have you added coolant to the rad prior to overheating? Does it push coolant out of the overflow bottle when it overheated? Are the fins all tight on the core? Do the tubes looked like they have white buildup around them inside the rad?
August 4th, 2016 | 11:45 AM
#4
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 14,479
From: southeastern Michigan
Also, isn't the engine a 350? Or do you have a 455?
August 4th, 2016 | 12:07 PM
#6
Thread Starter
76' OldsCutlassSup
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 4
However my husband was able to check it out and thinks its the radiator itself. But any other things I should check out....def lmk please.
August 4th, 2016 | 12:53 PM
#7
Hookers under Hood
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,543
From: Ontario, Canada
If your husband feels as thou its the rad then I would replace the t-stat and rad cap as well .
How does he know the rad is in fact the issue? Does the car have A/C ? What temp is it outside when it usually overheats ? With or without A/C on.
Eric
How does he know the rad is in fact the issue? Does the car have A/C ? What temp is it outside when it usually overheats ? With or without A/C on.
Eric
August 4th, 2016 | 01:43 PM
#8
Thread Starter
76' OldsCutlassSup
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 4
If your husband feels as thou its the rad then I would replace the t-stat and rad cap as well .
How does he know the rad is in fact the issue? Does the car have A/C ? What temp is it outside when it usually overheats ? With or without A/C on.
I'm not sure why he thinks it is the radiator I haven't had a chance to talk to him today and he is at work and has the car with him. but our car does have ac...well it did. It ran off of r 12 and then he use a valve adapter( something round those lines) so he could use the R134a which that was working until about a month ago when the car first overheated and we replace the thermostat and after we replace the thermostat the AC just stopped working and this is now the only second time the car has overheated on us. when it has overheated it is about 94 degrees outside. but this car is a daily driver and being the summer it's been pretty hot and it is only overheated these two times.
Eric
How does he know the rad is in fact the issue? Does the car have A/C ? What temp is it outside when it usually overheats ? With or without A/C on.
I'm not sure why he thinks it is the radiator I haven't had a chance to talk to him today and he is at work and has the car with him. but our car does have ac...well it did. It ran off of r 12 and then he use a valve adapter( something round those lines) so he could use the R134a which that was working until about a month ago when the car first overheated and we replace the thermostat and after we replace the thermostat the AC just stopped working and this is now the only second time the car has overheated on us. when it has overheated it is about 94 degrees outside. but this car is a daily driver and being the summer it's been pretty hot and it is only overheated these two times.
Eric
August 4th, 2016 | 01:50 PM
#10
Hookers under Hood
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,543
From: Ontario, Canada
I would check the core for loose or rotted fins to start with, then have a look inside the filler neck to see if ther is any deposits around the tubes themselves. I'm wondering if he left an air lock in the system after changing the T-stat. Leaving an air lock in the system could and normally will overheat the engine.
Ask him if he seen good flow through the upper tubes of the rad after changing the t-stat and refilling, this would eliminate the air lock, water pump and new t-stat at least.
Hope this helps
Eric
Ask him if he seen good flow through the upper tubes of the rad after changing the t-stat and refilling, this would eliminate the air lock, water pump and new t-stat at least.
Hope this helps
Eric
August 4th, 2016 | 01:55 PM
#11
Hookers under Hood
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,543
From: Ontario, Canada
Given its your daily driver, drive the car with the heater defrost on high to keep the engine cooler. It will suck on a hot day but it may save you from a head gasket job in the near future if it should overheat again . Top the overflow bottle and rad off each day prior to driving. If its well below the trans cooler then you need to top if off during coolant circulation to avoid air locks.
Eric
Eric
Last edited by 76olds; August 4th, 2016 at 01:58 PM.
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